Vehicle power supply control system to control power from a solar panel and an auxiliary battery, vehicle comprising the power supply control system, and method of controlling power supply from a solar panel and an auxiliary battery

Abstract

A vehicle power supply control system includes a solar panel, a drive battery, an auxiliary battery, an auxiliary system that is powered by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire power generated by the solar panel and power consumption of the auxiliary system. The controller is configured to control power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery based on the power generated by the solar panel and the power consumption of the auxiliary system when the power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery is possible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle power supply control system comprising:
 a solar panel;   a drive battery;   an auxiliary battery;   an auxiliary system configured to be powered by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery; and   an electronic control unit configured to   acquire an amount of power generated by the solar panel and an amount of power consumption of the auxiliary system, and   control power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery based on the power generated by the solar panel and the power consumption of the auxiliary system in a drive battery charge mode, wherein power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery is possible in the drive battery charge mode,   wherein the electronic control unit is configured to supply power from the solar panel to the drive battery in a case that the power generated by the solar panel becomes equal to or greater than a sum of a previous power consumption of the auxiliary system and a predetermined first power before a first time elapses after start of power supply control for the drive battery, the previous power consumption of the auxiliary system being power consumed by the auxiliary system in a last drive battery charge mode.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle power supply control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured not to supply power from the solar panel to the drive battery in a case that the power generated by the solar panel becomes less than a sum of an actual power consumption of the auxiliary system and second power after starting to supply power from the solar panel to the drive battery. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle power supply control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to start supplying power from the solar panel to the drive battery in a case that the power generated by the solar panel is continuously equal to or greater than the sum of the previous power consumption of the auxiliary system and the first power for a second time or more before the first time elapses after the start of power supply control for the drive battery. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle power supply control system according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to stop supplying power from the solar panel to the drive battery when the power generated by the solar panel is continuously less than the sum of the actual power consumption of the auxiliary system and the second power for a third time or more. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to supply power generated by the solar panel to the auxiliary battery and the auxiliary system when the vehicle is in a mode in which the vehicle can move. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel comprises a solar electronic unit, and the electronic control unit implements a power saving mode in which a part of functions of the solar electronic control unit is operated and a remainder of functions of the solar electronic control unit is stopped when the vehicle is in a mode in which the vehicle cannot move. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 6 , wherein the mode in which the vehicle cannot move comprises the vehicle being parked. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second electronic control unit configured to monitor a state of the auxiliary system, and to calculate a power consumption of the auxiliary system. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , wherein in the drive battery charge mode, an ignition switch of the vehicle is set to OFF. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit stores a power consumption of the auxiliary system immediately before charging of the drive battery is stopped as the previous power consumption. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle power supply control system of  claim 1 , wherein when the drive battery charge mode ends, the electronic control unit switches to an inactive mode. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle comprising a vehicle power supply control system, the vehicle power supply control system including:
 a solar panel;   a drive battery;   an auxiliary battery;   an auxiliary system configured to be powered by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery; and   an electronic control unit configured to   acquire an amount of power generated by the solar panel and an amount of power consumption of the auxiliary system, and   control power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery based on the power generated by the solar panel and the power consumption of the auxiliary system in a drive battery charge mode, wherein power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery is possible in the drive battery charge mode,   wherein the electronic control unit is configured to supply power from the solar panel to the drive battery in a case that the power generated by the solar panel becomes equal to or greater than a sum of a previous power consumption of the auxiliary system and a predetermined first power before a first time elapses after start of power supply control for the drive battery, the previous power consumption of the auxiliary system being power consumed by the auxiliary system in a last drive battery charge mode.   
     
     
         13 . A method that is performed by a vehicle power supply control system, the vehicle power supply control system including a solar panel, a drive battery, an auxiliary battery, and an auxiliary system that is powered by the solar panel and the auxiliary battery, the method comprising:
 acquiring an amount of power generated by the solar panel and an amount of power consumption of the auxiliary system;   controlling power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery based on the power generated by the solar panel and the power consumption of the auxiliary system in a drive battery charge mode, wherein power supply from the solar panel to the drive battery is possible in the drive battery charge mode, and   supplying power from the solar panel to the drive battery in a case that the power generated by the solar panel becomes equal to or greater than a sum of a previous power consumption of the auxiliary system and a predetermined first power before a first time elapses after start of power supply control for the drive battery, the previous power consumption of the auxiliary system being power consumed by the auxiliary system in a last drive battery charge mode.